Yashodhar Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jul 25: At a time when the heat generated by the proposal of the government to set up a thermal power plant at Niddodi has given anxious moments to the people living in villages around this village, the fact that a private company from Bangalore has been making preparations to set up a mini hydro power project at Puttige in the neighbourhood of Niddodi has added to the worries of the people in the region. The villages of both Niddodi and Puttige are up in arms against these two projects, which they term as a ploy to destroy fertile agricultural land and inflicting of human atrocity on nature.
A Bangalore-based company has applied for no objection certificate for the construction of a dam for the purpose of reservoir, which will feed a mini hydro electric project proposed to be installed in Kallamudkoor village near here.
As per the plan, the power generator unit will be installed at Nagundi on the banks of River Shambhavi where the rivulet pours into that river, and water flowing in from the proposed dam at Kanjibail will run the turbines. The company has also approached the government for setting up a seven mw mini hydro electric power project. These proposals, it is learnt, have been examined by the committee set up for the purpose, which has given its nod to the company subject to certain conditions. Discussions about pros and cons of this project were held at the Gram Sabha, and the villagers also participated in a meeting convened by the managing director of the company on July 18 this year.
The hydro electric project, which is planning to be installed at Nagundi within Puttige gram panchayat limits, is likely to result in inundation of about 200 acres of agricultural land owned by about 60 families living in Kanjibail region in Puttige, once the proposed dam comes up there. The residents of the village in general, and those living in the vicinity of the said project in particular, say they are determined not to fall prey to the efforts being made by the company to convince them to give up their land. Saying that they will be doing everything within their command to thwart annexation of their land, the villagers are planning to lead a delegation for achieving this objective, to the state chief minister.
The villagers are afraid that over 200 acres of land spread over Kodipady, Kongoor, Matha, Karumugeru, Bailabari, Siriyara, Gendabettu, Heladadka, Madimak Gundi, Moonkmar, Golimar, Anadka, Kadanjirabettu, Murantakody, Madhorottu and Botta near Erugundi in Kanjibail may go under water because of the reservoir that is likely to come up at Kanjibail Erugundi. The fear of the people has further got deep-rooted because of certain surveys which were conducted here in the past. The rivulet across which the dam will be situated, joins River Shambhavi at Nagundi. Already because of this rivulet, when it is in spate, houses of a number families in the region as well as Puttige Temple compound goes under water. The villagers also feel that Arbikatte, which has come to be known as a picnic spot, and the natural charm of Naga Falls in Kallamundkoor, which has religious significance, will be adversely affected.
Vasudeva Nayak, a resident of the village, feels that his house as well as several others in the region will get submerged by the proposed reservoir, taking into consideration the fact that water from the rivulet spreads to their courtyards during every rainy season at present, even in the absence of this dam. Noting that towers of mini hydro power units set up near Moodbidri have been seen spitting fire into the air which affects the lives of the people, he feels that the mini hydro electric project if set up in his neighbourhood, might burn down the houses of the people here. Ward member, Shashidhar Nayak, said that he always supports agitations and protests that are held legally for lawful purposes, duly stressing that the gram panchayat will not issue no objection certificate for the unit if the villagers are against it. Dhruva Bhat is determined not to allow his land to be taken away for the proposed project, and to ensure that agriculture and his village will survive, duly fighting against all the odds the people are facing now.